Messages of sympathy have flooded in for a couple whose dog died suddenly of overheating, although some have questioned the ethics of breeding bulldogs.

Dolly, better known by her nickname Fatty, was well-known to many as she used to sit in the window of Fatty’s Barbers’ Shop - named in her honour by her owners - in the Wharfside Shopping Centre in Penzance.

Laura and Stphen Bell, from Sithney near Helston, were distraught when she suddenly died in June. Fatty had been at the grooming room at the Pets at Home store in Falmouth when Mr and Mrs Bell discovered she was panting and in obvious discomfort.

However, exception was taken by Timothy Sprake, who pointed out the health complications suffered by bulldogs in general.

He said: “Sad this, sad that, blah blah. But people carry on breeding and owning these suffering animals. They’re riddled with problems these dogs because we breed them to suit! But we're sad because one has died of apparent heat stroke.

"What about the suffering when there alive and your pets and your quite happy to pull it along with its heavy breathing?”

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Julian Collings echoed the views of many came to the defence when he said: “Yes, they have their issues however if you educate yourself before owning one and not just for a trend setting they will live a long life. I’ve got one now with no health issues whatsoever and had two previously and they are in perfect health. They need someone that knows what they are doing that’s all."

Fatty the English bulldog, who died suddenly in the summer

This was countered by Matt Petherbridge, who added: “The Kennel Club and 'top breeder's' financial interests have a massive amount to answer for. Bulldogs are one of the least genetically healthy breeds you can choose.

“What's more this is totally down to ignorant fashion, as such dogs have become little more than accessories.Bulldogs as they now are bare very little resemblance to the original working dog. But then this is true of most Kennel Club breed specifications. Bulldogs are just one of the most extreme examples.”

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Toni Leigh Whatley spokes authoritatively on the subject when she said: “Unfortunately these dogs are breed for fashion though, originally, they were bred for the sport of bull-baiting (where their large muscles, especially the muscles around their faces, were particular focus) however this sport was banned many centuries ago.

“The anatomical deformities have worsened over that time due to fashion and aesthetics. A historical sporting bulldog was not bred to have a short muzzle; they needed a good mouth with a strong bite and they were taller, fitter dogs that could actually exercise without the risk of overheating as easily as today's bulldog breed.

“As with any brand name (dog breeds or not), bulldogs are designed and chosen because of the way they look; they are a fashion.”